Judiciary seeks budget restoration with upswing in
economy

With the state’s economy on the upswing, California’s legal
community is hoping for an infusion of state tax dollars this year to begin
restoring access to justice.

After four years of state budget cuts, the branch saw a
glimmer of hope last year with the restoration of $63 million.

But Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye has said that it will
take an additional $1 billion over the next three to five years to ensure that
the courts are open and accessible to all citizens. She added that she
recognizes it’s an ambitious goal.

The cuts have reduced the judicial branch budget by $475
million, or about 30 percent. The state general fund now provides 25 percent of
the branch budget, which is down from a high of 56 percent in 2008-2009,
according to court statistics. To fill in the funding gaps, the branch has
increased user fees and fines and tapped money from local court fund balances
and funds designated for statewide projects, such as courthouse construction.

Last month, the Judicial Council voted to make adequate
investment in the judiciary its No. 1 legislative priority this year.

In addition, the branch will seek funding for 50 new
judgeships and the conversion of up to 26 vacant subordinate judicial officer
positions to judgeships to alleviate a shortage that’s most acute in
fast-growing counties. The Legislature approved the 50 additional judgeships in
2007 (for a total of 1,662 authorized judges), but the positions have not yet
been funded.